Latest News | Pokemon Sword and Shield

This section is consistently updated with the latest news about Pokemon Sword and Shield. Check back for details about the The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra DLC, and all other news.

June 2021

June17: G-Max Factor Bulbasaur and Squirtle Now Available!

Start	June 17, 2021
End	TBA

Following the recent Pokemon Home update, Bulbasaur and Squirtle with the Gigantamax Factor are now available to redeem via Mystery Gift!

Mystery Gifts
Bulbasaur	Squirtle

How to Get Mystery Gifts

June 17: Pokemon Home Maintenance

Pokemon Home will undergo maintenance on Thursday, June 17, 2021 from 01:00 UTC to 06:00 UTC.

Following the schedule maintenance, users need to download a new update to use the app on mobile devices.

Pokemon HOME News & Guide

June 4: Froggy Pokemon Event!

Start	June 4th, 2021
End	June 6th, 2021

A horde of frog-themed Pokemon are flooding the Wild Area from June 4 to June 6! Not only do you have a chance to get a Gigantamax Venusaur, you may also snag a shiny Politoed!

June 4th to June 6th Max Raid Event
Ivysaur	Poliwag
Croagunk	Tympole
Poliwhirl	Palpitoad
Politoed	Seismitoad
Venusaur	Gigantamax Venusaur

List of Max Raid Events

June 3: Fair and Square Online Competition Announced!

Start	June 17th, 2021 (Thu.)
End	June 20th, 2021 (Sat.)

The Fair and Square Online Competition has been announced! From June 17 to June 20, players can participate in a Singles Battle Competition.

While this online competition follows the standard ruleset of banning legendaries, it also disallows the usage of Sub-Legendary Pokemon such as Glastrier, Spectrier, Urshifu, and the Ultra Beasts to name a few.

Fair and Square Online Competition

June 1: Ranked Battle Season 9 Begins

Start	June 1st, 2021 (Tue.)
End	June 30th, 2021 (Wed.)

Ranked Battle Series 9 is now live! WIth the new ruleset, Legendary Pokemon are once again banned from competitive play!

Ranked Battle Series 9 | Rules and Legal Pokemon

May 2021

May 21 - May 23: Wooloo Event!

Start	May 21st, 2021
End	May 23rd, 2021

A herd of Wooloo and Dubwool are loose in the Wild Area from May 21 to May 23! You may even have a chance to find a Shiny Wooloo!

May 21 to May 23rd Max Raid Event
Wooloo	Dubwool

List of Max Raid Events

May 1: Ranked Battle Series 9 Announced!

Start	May 1st, 2021 (Mon.)
End	TBA

Ranked Battle Series 9 has been announced! Legendary Pokemon are once again banned from competitive play but the metagame is as offensive-oriented as ever!

Ranked Battle Series 9 | Rules and Legal Pokemon

April 2021

April 30 - May 2: Meowth Festival Event!

Start	April 30th, 2021
End	May 2, 2021

Celebrate the Meowth Festival with a Max Raid Event featuring everybody's favorite Scratch Cat Pokemon! Not only do you have a chance to get a Gigantamax Meowth, you may even get a Shiny Galarian Meowth!

April 30th to May 2nd Max Raid Event
Meowth	Alolan Meowth
Gigantamax Meowth	Galarian Meowth

List of Max Raid Events

April 23: World Penguin Day Event!

Start	April 23rd, 2021
End	April 25th, 2021 (Sun.)

Celebrate World Penguin Day with Pokemon Eiscue! Encounter Eiscue in Max Raid battles until April 25th, 2021. And if you are lucky enough, you might encounter a Shiny Eiscue!

April 23rd to April 25th Max Raid Event
Eiscue	Eiscue (Shiny)

List of Max Raid Events

April 05: Ditto, Centiskorch and More!

Start	April 5th, 2021
End	TBA

Easter Pokemon have left the Max Raid Battles! Get ready to encounter Ditto, Centiskorch, and more! There's no information yet as to when this event will end, and if there will be an additional Gigantamax Pokemon in the coming days. But, this might be available for the rest of April. We will make sure to add more details as soon as we get more information. Stay tuned!

April 5th to TBA Max Raid Event
Ditto	Centiskorch
Drednaw	Orbeetle
Corviknight	Dubwool

April 02: Bunny Pokemon Max Raid Battles!

Start	April 2nd, 2021
End	April 4th, 2021 (Sun.)

Bunny Pokemon on Max Raid Battles starting from April 02, 2021, until Easter Sunday! You'll have an increased chance to encounter Azumarill, Lopunny, Diggersby, and, a Shiny Azumarill if you're lucky!

Gigantamax Cinderace will also be making a rare appearance in five-star Max Raid Battles and will give you lots of useful Candy upon defeating it. You will not be able to catch it at the end of the battle, but those useful candies are worth having!

April 02 to April 04, 2021 Max Raid Event
Gigantamax Cinderace
Azumarill	Lopunny
Diggersby	Azumarill (Shiny)

April 01: Uncatchable Magikarp on Max Raid Battles!

Start	April 1st, 2021
End	April 1st, 2021 (Thu.)

Magikarp is on Max Raid Battles for the entire day! But the thing is, you will be unable to catch it. Yes, you read it right! Players will only be able to encounter Magikarp because this event is made to celebrate April Fool's Day. Though, you can still get items after each battle. Well, that's a good prank right there. Happy April Fool's Day!

April 01, 2021 Max Raid Event
Magikarp

March 2021

March 26: Floral Pokemon Special Max Raid Battles!

Start	March 26th, 2021
End	March 28th, 2021 (Sun.)

Celebrate spring in Galar Region by catching flower-themed Pokemon! Encounter Vileplume, Bellossom, Cherrim, Lilligant, Lurantis, and Comfey in Max Raid Battles. You'll also have a chance to encounter a Shiny Lilligant too!

March 26 to March 28, 2021 Max Raid Event
Vileplume	Bellossom
Cherrim	Lilligant
Lurantis	Comfey
Lilligant (Shiny)

March 19: Dynamax Crystal Distribution Event!

Start	March 19th, 2021
End	April 19th, 2021 (Mon.)

Good news for Players in certain European countries! To tie in with the release of Battle Styles TCG set, they have distributed Dynamax Crystal (☆Sgr6913) that you can use in Max Raid Battle to encounter Gigantamax Appletun in Sword and Gigantamax Flapple in Shield. You can get the serial code from the list of stores below.

Store	Location
GameMania (Online Store)	Netherlands
GameMania (Online Store)	Belgium
Micromania (Online Store)	France
Gamestop (Online)	Italy

This is for a limited time only, don't miss this chance!

March 04: Spikemuth Cup!

Start	March 19th, 2021
End	March 21st, 2021 (Thur.) 11:59 PM GMT

Get ready and register for the Spikemuth Cup Single Battle competition! This competition can be very challenging and put your skills to the test, it has the same restriction that all Gym Challengers face when battling in Spikemuth. So, Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing are not possible. Also, your Battle Team can't have more than one of the same Pokemon and can't bring the same item. Give your best shot!

Eligible Pokemon
Galar Pokedex No. 001–397
Isle of Armor Pokedex No. 001–210
Crown Tundra Pokedex No. 001–209

How to Register

The registration will be from March 04, 2021 to March 18, 2021. To register for the competition, follow the steps below:

1.	Launch your Pokemon Sword or Shield game.
2.	Press the X button.
3.	Select VS.
4.	Select Battle Stadium.
5.	Select Online Competitions.
6.	Select Search Official Competitions.

Results and Gifts

The ranking results of the battle will be available in April 2021 (date subject to change). Once the results are posted, you can view your rankings and receive your participation gift by following the same steps you followed when you registered.

March 01: Fairy and Flying Type Pokemon!

Start	March 1st, 2021 (Mon.)
End	March 31st, 2021 (Wed.)

New month, new Max Raid event! This month, it is all about Fairy and Flying Type Pokemon. You will get a chance to encounter Gigantamax Hatterene and Gigantamax Corviknight. Don't miss this chance, grab them all!

March 01 to March 31, 2021 Max Raid Event
Gigantamax Pokemon
Gigantamax Hatterene	Gigantamax Corviknight

February 2021

February 26: Gigantamax Pikachu on Pokemon Day!

Start	February 26th, 2021 (Fri.)
End	February 28th, 2021 (Sun.) 11:59 PM GMT

In celebration of Pokemon Day, a Gigantamax Pikachu will be available on Max Raid Battle! If more than 1M players will defeat Gigantamax Pikachu, a reward will be distributed. This event will run from February 26th to 28th. Mark your calendar!

Rewards
100 Armorite Ore	100 Dynite Ore
Distribution Date
March 2nd ~ March 14th, 2021

February 25: Pikachu with Sing Move!

Start	February 25th, 2021 (Fri.)
End	March 25th, 2021 (Thur.) 11:59 PM GMT

Pokemon will celebrate their 25th year with a music motif! There will be a virtual concert featuring global superstar Post Malone who is also an avid fan of Pokemon. Together with this, players can also get Pikachu with Sing move starting February 25th! The move Sing is an attack that Pikcahu can't normally learn. Make sure to get it!

Mystery Gift Code	P25MUS1C

Pikachu Moveset

Level	25
Ability	Lightning Rod
Held Item	Light Ball
Moves	Sing Encore Celebrate Electro Ball

Pikachu - Evolution and Learnset

Virtual Concert on Pokemon Day

You can watch the virtual concert on February 27th for free! Just tune in to Pokemon's 25th Anniversary website, the official Pokémon YouTube channel, or the official Pokémon Twitch channel starting at 12:00 a.m. GMT.

February 19: Shiny Toxtricity Event!

Start	February 19th, 2021 (Fri.)
End	March 18th, 2021 (Thur.) 11:59 PM GMT

GameStops have confirmed the distribution of Shiny Toxtricity. This event is in ties with the new TCG set release, Shining Fates, and will run starting from February 19, 2021.

You can get Shiny Toxtricity at participating game stores with no purcahse necessary! To receive your Shiny Toxtricity, drop by to the nearest participating GamesStop and scan the QR code using a Pokemon Pass app. Don't miss this chance!

Country	Store
US	GameStop using Pokemon Pass. Curbside pickup is also available.
Canada, Australia, and New Zealand	EB Games Call the store or knock on the front door and request for a code.
Germany and Italy	GameStop's website
France	Micromania's website
Belgium and Netherlands	GameMania's website

Shiny Toxtricity Moveset

Level	50
Ability	Punk Rock
Held Item	Throat Spray
Moves	Overdrive Sludge Wave Boomburst Rising Voltage

Toxtricity - Evolution and Learnset

Redeem Shiny Toxtricity through Mystery Gift

1.	Launch Pokemon Sword or Shield.
2.	Press X button, and select Get a Mystery Gift.
3.	Select Get with Code/Password Make sure you are connected to the internet.
4.	Enter the code.
5.	Wait for a while, and receive Shiny Toxtricity!
6.	Don't forget to save the game!

February 12: Milcery Valentine's Day Event

Start	February 12th, 2021 (Fri.)
End	February 14th, 2021 (Sun.) 11:59 PM GMT

A special Max Raid for Valentine's Day! Up until February 14th, players can encounter Milcery on Max Raid Battle and receive different kinds of sweets, including Star Sweets and Ribbon Sweets, which are only available during special events. These sweets allow Milcery to evolve into different forms of Alcremie. Don't miss this opportunity! Also, you have a small chance to encounter a Shiny Milcery during this Valentine's Day event.

February 12 to February 14, 2021 Max Raid Event
Milcery	Milcery (Shiny)

February 04: Special Max Raid Battle Event!

Start	February 4th, 2021 (Thurs.)
End	February 8th, 2021 (Mon.) 11:59 PM GMT

Here is a Special Max Raid event in celebration of the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle! It will feature Pokemon from the movie, including a chance to encounter a Shiny Cramorant. All players can also receive cool items Cramorant swallowed if they defeated Cramorant more than 500,000 and 1 million times. Players will receive these items via Mystery Gift.

Number of Players	Items
500,000 Players	Flame Orb, Toxic Orb and Light Ball.
1,000,000 Players	Gold Bottle Cap, 3 Bottle Caps and 3 Pearl Strings
Items Distribution Date
February 10, 2021 (Wed.) 12:00 AM GMT - February 28, 2021 (Sun.) 11:59 PM GMT

Pokemon with Increased Appearance Rate
Quagsire	Flygon	Golurk
Cramorant	Indeedee (Female)	-

February 01: Fighting and Psychic Type Gigantamax Pokemon!

Start	February 1st, 2021 (Mon.)
End	February 28th, 2021 (Sun.)

February's Max Raid Event is all about Fighting and Psychic Type Pokemon. Challenge them more frequently in Pokemon Dens, featuring Gigantamax Machamp and Gigantamax Orbeetle. Remember, February has shorter days, don't miss this chance!

February 01 to February 28, 2021 Max Raid Event
Gigantamax Pokemon
Gigantamax Machamp	Gigantamax Orbeetle
Pokemon with Increased Appearance Rate
Fighting-type Pokemon	Psychic-type Pokemon
Machamp	Orbeetle
Lucario	Reuniclus
Falinks	Gothitelle

January 2021

January 22: Ranked Battle Series 8 Rules Announced!

Start	February 1st, 2021 (Mon.)
End	April 31st, 2021 (Fri.)

The ruleset for Ranked Battle Series 8 have been announced! From February 1 to April 31, 2021, players can now include one Legendary Pokemon on their team!

Ranked Battle Series 8 | Rules and Legal Pokemon

January 22: Year of the Ox!

Availability Period
Start	January 22nd, 2021 (Fri.)
End	January 24th, 2021 (Sun.) 11:59 GMT

A special Max Raid event in celebration of the Year of the Ox is now available! You will get a chance to encounter Shiny Tauros, as well as Miltank and Bouffalant. This event will only run for only 3-days.

January 1: Normal and Dragon-type Gigantamax Event

Availability Period
Start	January 1st, 2021 (Fri.)
End	January 31st, 2021 (Sun.) 11:59 GMT

January's the season for catching Gigantamax Snorlax and Gigantamax Duraludon in the latest Wild Area event! It will be a while before these Pokemon are as commonly available again, so don't miss this chance to grab them. Two other Normal and Dragon type Pokemon are available at increased rates in Max Raids as well.

January 01 to January 31, 2021 Max Raid Event
Gigantamax Pokemon
Gigantamax Snorlax	Gigantamax Duraludon
Normal-type Pokemon	Dragon-type Pokemon
Bewear	Cinccino
Haxorus	Goodra

January 8: Shiny Skwovet and Shiny Greedent!

Availability Period
Start	January 8th, 2021 (Fri.)
End	January 10th, 2021 (Sun.) 11:59 GMT

A similar event from November 2020 is returning to Max Raids for 3-days! Get a chance to encounter a Shiny Skwovet and Shiny Greedent. This Wild Area Event will also feature Pokemon such as Cherubi, Morelull, Shiinotec, Foongus, and Amoonguss.

January 08 to January 10, 2021 Max Raid Event
Skwovet (Shiny)	Greedent (Shiny)	Foongus
Morelull	Cherubi	Shiinotic
Amoonguss	-	-

Past News

Check out our list of past news for information on the events, distributions, and wild areas news you may have missed!

List of Past News

Related Links

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Gym Leader Battles	List of Moves
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